Plaid Cymru pledges library in every Welsh primary school by 2030

Plaid Cymru has pledged to ensure every primary school in Wales has a dedicated library space by 2030 if it forms the next government.

The commitment is part of a “Back to Basics” literacy plan, which was officially launched this week by the party’s education spokesperson Cefin Campbell to mark the start of the new school year.

The policy follows concerns over Wales’ performance in international reading assessments. In the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Wales recorded its lowest-ever score of 466 – below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average – and ranked last among the UK nations.

Education inspectorate Estyn’s 2023–24 annual report also found that more than 30% of primary schools were advised to improve literacy, numeracy or digital skills, with weaknesses identified in advanced reading provision.

Campbell said access to school libraries had been shown to boost reading skills, particularly in disadvantaged communities. He accused Labour of failing to provide consistent support.

Campbell said: “The latest PISA results for reading put Wales at the bottom of the UK rankings. This isn’t as good as it gets for our children.

“Plaid Cymru believes we need a ‘Back to Basics’ approach to improve outcomes, and guaranteeing library spaces in every primary school is one step towards that. Labour have neglected the foundational role of libraries in literacy, and it’s one of their many failures that not every primary school has access to an on-site library.”

However, school leaders questioned the proposal, warning that it risked diverting scarce resources away from more pressing needs. According to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Cymru, all primary schools already provided access to books. 

Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, added: “Plaid Cymru’s focus on specific library spaces seems like something of a red herring. There are so many incredibly urgent demands on education funding and school budgets – including spiralling costs, buildings in disrepair, and sharply increasing additional learning needs – libraries are sadly quite far down the priority list for most schools.

“Ultimately, the best way to boost literacy is to ensure all pupils have dedicated high-quality teachers and school staff in front of them and the learning support they need. Any policy that directs funding away from these crucial fundamentals would be short-sighted.”